Overview
- David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that Arsenal have agreed scholarship terms with Dowman to continue his development at Hale End, with a professional contract intended once he is eligible.
- Multiple outlets say elite clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea showed interest, but reporting indicates the teenager chose Arsenal for its pathway and ties to the club.
- Coverage from the Mirror cites football.london in reporting that Mikel Arteta played a significant role in persuading the midfielder to commit.
- Arsenal Insider quoted transfer analyst Graeme Bailey cautioning that a scholarship does not legally lock the player in and would not stop another club from attempting to sign him before a pro deal.
- The 15-year-old has already made senior appearances, notably winning a penalty on his Premier League debut in August’s 5-0 win over Leeds, and has scored for England’s youth teams.